She was asking about legality of parents possessing those photos, so your comment isn’t particularly applicable, but thanks.

Not unless the photos are sexually suggestive.

Melania: “Lie back, close your eyes and hope he dies before trading you in for a newer model. Money money money.”

Former newspaper person here. I sure do miss professional headline writers.

Right right, I meant polar bear country in Manitoba, where they do the tours. Thanks for the clarification!

I recently read a book about bears and there was a big section about Manitoba. I kind of want to visit, as I am a bit obsessed with bears, but I’d be utterly terrified as I’m also obsessed with not being eaten alive.

The Great Pyrenees is a popular dog in Alaska for warding off brown bears. Also super cuddly!

Some people pay good money for this exact experience. Enjoy the adventure, meteorologists.

What the fuck are you talking about? Compared to people in developing countries, you’re almost certainly rich too. Nobody is saying anybody’s entitled to anything, though in general if you pursue higher education, you’ll make a better income. But to imply that most everyone getting a PhD comes from money is completely…

Voice of reason! I can’t believe how many people think professors teach a couple of easy classes and spend the rest of their time smoking expensive cigars in their spacious offices and chortling about what a sweet deal they have!

Well I take offense at that. My husband is very clean and hot to boot. ;-)

Four months off? Only if teaching is their only sole responsibility, which is far from the case for many professors, who actually consider research a hugely important part of their jobs. My husband has three months salary support from his teaching and must win grants to pay the rest of his annual salary and lab…

Many, many careers — especially those that require PhDs — have high pay compared to what “ordinary” Americans make. That doesn’t make them rich.

OK. I just think her behavior got blown way out of proportion. Agree to disagree!

Ah — head of the department status def matters. Lucky him. Professors work really hard and I can’t begrudge them making a good living. The countless administrators at universities are the ones really raking in the big money. I begrudge them.

She might’ve been loaded on smack too and I might’ve just dropped acid and smoked crack for all you know. Assuming it doesn’t make it true though. She admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking which are pretty standard activities for young people. As a regular smoker of marijuana, I can tell you that in general high…

Hmmm, was he old? If so, he might’ve built up his career and salary back when there was grant money to go around and regular raises were given and being a professor was actually pretty cush. That surprises me for a public school in flyover country, but maybe he is really important in his field or patented something…

Really? A typical marijuana high lasts two hours and you think she was high off her mind during the entire interrogation?

Since we don’t have kids, Pa and I have talked about selling our house in real estate-crazy Seattle and buying a condo in the heart of the city. Then I looked at HOA fees and read up on condo board antics and realized I could never deal with all that.

No, of course not! But I often see comments around these parts suggesting that professors are extremely well off. They typically work way over a 40-hour week and don’t make nearly what they would in private industry, at least those in science and such. For instance, Professor Pa Vaffanculo was courted by oil companies…